The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has blocked unspent funds of government agencies totaling N189 billion in 2019 and 2020, collectively.
This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday, February 15, by Bako Nathan, Head, Special Operations, ICPC, who said the commission has blocked unspent funds of government agencies totaling N189 billion in 2019 and 2020, collectively.
Nathan disclosed this in Abuja before the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee investigating alleged corruption and abuse of nominal rolls and other corrupt practices by government agencies.
He said that the ICPC had been investigating allegations of corrupt practices in various government agencies over the years.
Nathan said that ICPC blocked billions of Naira in various government agencies which were allegedly dubiously spent and kept to shortchange the government.
The House, however, summoned the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, and Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, as well as heads of key government agencies over the alleged abuse and inflation of nominal rolls.
Rep. Dachung Bagos, the Chairman of the committee, said that they would write to all the agencies that did not attend the sitting.
He added that any agency that failed to attend would be treated as one of those abusing laid down rules and over bloating their nominal rolls to defraud the government.
Others summoned by the committee included the Head of the Service of the Federation, Accountant General of the Federation, the Auditor General of the Federation, and the Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The Chief Executive Officer, Federal Character Commission (FCC), and the Officer in Charge of IPPIS were also summoned.
Meanwhile, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has expressed the Federal Government’s readiness and commitment to the effective actualisation of the Strategic Roadmap (2021 to 2025) of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development.
Osinbajo made the commitment at the official inauguration of the Strategic Roadmap in Abuja on Tuesday, February 15.
According to the vice president, the Strategic Roadmap as formulated by the ministry is so important.
“It is note worthy that the ministry has developed a framework, thus, leading to an inclusive and innovative future thinking ecosystem for coordinating programmes under its jurisdiction.
“I am further delighted by the Roadmap emphasis on establishing linkages with other government plans such as the National Development Plan by situating itself in a broader matrix of national planning.
“The Roadmap and by implication, the ministry is contributing a climate of coherence, consistency, and continuity across all sphere of governance.
“Therefore, the Federal Government stands ready to support the actualisation of this Roadmap every step of the way.
“I urge all stakeholders to close ranks and collaborate with the ministry; in bringing us ever closer to a socialist secure nation,” Osinbajo said.
